‘We are in good shape’

Madrid: Borussia Dortmund will have to cope with key players missing through injury and suspension but Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is still wary of the threat posed by last season’s runners-up in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter final.

Real are looking for revenge after Dortmund knocked them out in the semi finals last year when Lewandowski hit four goals in the first leg but the Polish striker is suspended for Wednesday’s showdown.

“They are missing an important player in Robert Lewandowski but they defend well and are dangerous on the counter attack. We have to impose our quality and our ability so as to find positive answers,” Ancelotti told a news conference.

“This will be an important element to the game because their counter attacks are very dangerous. We will go out to play an attacking game but at the same time we are being careful at the back for their breaks.”

Back-to-back defeats by Barcelona and Sevilla have seen Real drop three points behind leaders Atletico Madrid in La Liga. With hopes of landing the domestic title fading, Real will be even more determined to win a 10th European Cup trophy.

“I have been in situations like this before and I will try to deal with it in a professional way,” said Ancelotti.

“The team is in good shape. We will look to play a game with a lot of intensity so as to find openings in attack. We need to have the right amount of intensity and speed and make sure that we don’t drop the rhythm. They have players missing but so do we.”

Fullback Marcelo has picked up a hamstring strain and misses the game.